Glennon still finding his way
The Tampa Tribune, published 9 December 2013

On another day, with a different final score, Mike Glennon might have found himself answering some tough questions. The Tampa Bay Bucccaneers rookie quarterback endured a difficult afternoon against the Bills on Sunday, but Glennon was all smiles following a 27-6 victory that gave the Bucs four wins in the past five weeks.

For the first time in 10 pro starts, the third-round draft choice out of North Carolina State completed less than half his pass attempts as he hit on only nine of 25 throws for a season-low 90 yards. Glennon did connect with Vincent Jackson and Tim Wright for touchdowns, but he was intercepted twice in posting a paltry passer rating of 40.4.

“Some of those balls I would like to have back,’’ said Glennon, who was sacked only once by a defense that entered the game with an NFL-high 43 sacks.

Bobby Rainey’s 80-yard touchdown run on the game’s second snap set the early tone and the Bucs rolled up 169 yards in the opening quarter. But in the next 45 minutes, Tampa Bay added only 77 yards as Buffalo’s run defense stiffened and Glennon was unable to find his targets with any consistency. Tampa Bay’s average starting field position for its 15 possessions was the Buccaneers’ 40-yard line, including four drives than began in Bills territory.

“Glennon’s upside is great,’’ Bucs right tackle Demar Dotson said. “As a rookie, he’s doing what he needs to do to succeed in this league. He has poise and everyone on this offense believes in him.’’

Glennon credited an opportunistic defense as the key component in Tampa Bay’s most lopsided victory since a 38-10 rout of the Chiefs, 25 games ago. “With the way our defense was playing, we did what we needed to do as an offense,’’ Glennon said. “They took care of the rest.’’